Keywords – Writing a Successful Veteran’s Resume for Corporate Jobs, Part 2

In Part 2 of our Veteran Corporate American Resume series, we will look how to use new keywords from the job announcement - instead of your well-known acronyms and military language.    The translation of military experiences and skill-sets is absolutely key to crafting a competitive resume for your career search. Matching your skills to the required skills in a target job announcement is critical for the recruiter to see clearly that you have the skills they need for their job. This can result in an interview request.

Case study for a new corporate job - Telecommunications (Network Project Manager) for a former Watch Officer, Telecommunications, E-6 New job duties from the recruitment advertisement for Telecommunications Position (Network Project Manager): Manages the development and implementation process of a company's services involving departmental or cross-functional teams focused on the delivery of new or existing projects. Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors. Monitors the project from initiation through delivery. Responsible for assembling project team, assigning individual responsibilities, identifying appropriate resources needed, and developing schedules to ensure timely completion of project. Communicates with lead Project Manager and/or functional area manager regarding status of specific projects.   Before military resume description with too many acronyms and not enough description of transferable duties; no keywords: Ensures mandatory communications link between units at sea and stations ashore. Direct operational representative of the CO in all operations. Responsible for TC/NF operations for 3 divisions. Provide tactical and strategic C4I support to DoD, NATO and multinational forces across the African, European and Central Command AOR. Manage 15 tactical circuits, and support base services for 36 tenant commands sustaining 5,000 personnel. CACO for the command. Comment:   The above duty-description utilizes too much military lingo and too many military acronyms.  It is not immediately clear how this experience translates to the target position. After corporate resume description with emphasis on technical leadership and new keywords: Functional area manager for technical communications.  Manage cross-functional teams to support Command, Control, Communications, and Computer support to multinational forces, including DOD, NATO, African, European and Central Command.  Manage tactical circuits and voice, video, and data services for more than 5,000 personnel.  Manage diverse problems with complex scope. Develop and implement services for technology control, network and flight operations. Assemble and direct project teams comprised of telecommunications/engineering technicians for operating and maintaining satellite telecommunications systems, mainframe computers, local and wide area networks, and micro-computer systems. Comment: The revised duty description eliminates the military lingo, the military acronyms, and specifically articulates - in plain language - how the veteran is qualified for a private sector telecommunications position. IMPORTANT: Use New Corporate Keywords from the Announcement Analyzing the target job announcement above, you can add the keywords and phrases into your resume. Adding verbs and language that private sector recruiters can understand is critical for the success of your resume: Functional area manager Manage cross-functional teams Manage diverse problems Manage tactical circuits and voice, video, and data services Assemble and direct project teams